Getting the opportunity to become a flag-bearer for your country ranks on top of the accomplishments charts for athletes. Michael Phelps carried the hopes of his nation during the 2016 Rio Olympics. Sue Bird lifted the flag during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Now, it’s time for LeBron James and Coco Gauff to enter the picture for the 2024 Paris Olympics. Yet, having Gauff carry the flag left a bitter taste for some fans, considering Katie Ledecky is on the team!

The aquatic unicorn participates in her 4th Olympics after winning seven gold medals in the previous installments. Fans wondered why Ledecky missed the chance to carry the flag for her country, a nation she served well in the past. Yet, USA Today columnist Christine Brennan popped up with her own opinions about the matter. And she certainly points out a valid reason!

Coco Gauff draws heat after being considered flag-bearer instead of Katie Ledecky!

Usually, the top athlete of a country gets handed this marvelous opportunity. But there are some explanations, according to Brennan, which might come to the forefront. On her X handle, she stated, “Coco Gauff is terrific choice to be female US flag bearer. Worth noting that 4-time Olympian Katie Ledecky, the greatest woman swimmer in history, said she “never planned on going to opening ceremonies” because she competes the next morning. That took her out of the running.” 

Notably, most athletes have events scheduled for the day after the opening ceremony. When one represents their country, the pressure cooker situation often derails their performance if not in the right mindset. Hence, they leave the opening ceremony to get into their positive headspace. Brenner also pointed out how Michael Phelps bowed out of the opening ceremony at the 2016 Rio Olympics for similar reasons.  

For Coco Gauff, this is one of the most remarkable moments in her career. After missing the Tokyo Olympics for testing positive for COVID-19, she is preparing to play singles and doubles. Ledecky, on the other hand, might be locked in for the events.

Brennan continued her thoughts, “Many athletes miss the opening ceremony because of the tremendous time commitment that day. They are on their feet for hours. And this time they will be on the Seine and can’t escape as Michael Phelps did after bringing in the flag in Rio. Ledecky has the huge 400 freestyle Sat.“

Phelps left for the Olympic Village after bringing the flag to the Maracana Stadium in Brazil during those Games. However, some athletes stay behind for the entire ceremony to soak in the glitz and glamor. The City of Love will offer that aplenty. With Katie Ledecky defending her 1500m crown, she surely would not take the Roger Federer route, eh?

Roger Federer leaves the Olympic village!

Imagine you are a legendary athlete. As humans, we all want photographs of someone inspiring, like Federer. With all the distractions that come with it, Federer left the Olympic Village at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, preferring a more personalized setup. In an interview during those games in 2008, Federer stated, “It is impossible really, there are so many athletes asking for photos and so on. It is not ideal to prepare.“

The 20x Grand Slam winner opted for a private residence to keep his focus on the games. It helps athletes to maintain focus. Likewise, golfer Minjee Lee is opting for a Federer-like move to focus on the gold this time. Otherwise, communal harmony in the Village causes distractions for some. 

With the 2024 Paris Olympics just around the corner, the excitement boils up to a mega event. Katie Ledecky and Coco Gauff can attract eyeballs as the potential medal-getters for Team USA. Do you think they will do it? Let us know in the comments below.